Singer Emaza Gibson is suing R&B star Jason Derulo for sexual harassment, alleging that he dropped her from his label after she refused to have intercourse with him.
In a grievance filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom, Gibson says Derulo contacted her in August 2021 to signal her as a solo artist to his label Future Historical past and started working with him in November 2021, with the promise of collaborating on an album. However she claims Derulo repeatedly pressured her to drink and have intercourse with him, alleging there was an “express demand for sex-in-exchange-for-success.”
Amongst many claims, the lawsuit alleges that at one level Derulo advised Gibson that if she needed to achieve success in “this enterprise” she “could be required to partake in ‘goat pores and skin and fish scales,’ which is a Haitian reference referring to conducting intercourse rituals, sacrificing a goat, goat blood and doing cocaine.’” The lawsuit claims that “the way and timing of such a press release meant that Derulo was demanding sexual acts from [Gibson] to ensure that Derulo to meet his function as her mentor, supervisor and musical collaborator.”
Within the grievance, Gibson alleges that Derulo would usually schedule late night time (9 p.m. to 2 a.m.) studio periods and repeatedly invite her to drinks. The lawsuit claims Derulo “continually pressured [Gibson] to drink with him regardless of [Gibson] repeatedly expressing she’s not a drinker. As a pretext, Derulo would “guarantee” [Gibson] he would organize for an Uber to take her residence.”
In one other incident, the lawsuit claims that in a late-night recording session, Derulo once more requested Gibson to have a drink with him. Gibson “reluctantly” agreed to have a drink with Derulo, however she was given “inappropriately massive quantities of alcohol,” the swimsuit says. “After this session, the place [Gibson] declined to drink and have intercourse with Derulo, the supply to rearrange for [Gibson] to get to and from Derulo’s studio ceased,” the grievance says.
The lawsuit says Derulo ultimately stopped responding to Gibson’s messages and that in September 2022 she was dropped by Future Historical past and Atlantic.
In addition to Derulo and Future Historical past, the grievance lists Atlantic Information (which has a three way partnership with Future Historical past), Derulo’s supervisor Frank Harris and RCA Information as defendants.
In an interview Wednesday with NBC Information, Gibson stated the entire scenario was “very heartbreaking.” “I’ve nervousness; I’m traumatized. I’ve handled inhumane work conditions. … I’m at this level the place I’m again to zero and I’ve nothing,” Gibson stated.
On Thursday night time, in a clip posted to Instagram, Derulo addressed the allegations with out going into the specifics of Gibson’s claims.
“I wouldn’t usually remark however these claims are utterly false and hurtful,” Derulo stated in a press release posted to his Instagram. “I stand towards all types of harassment and I stay supportive of anyone following their desires.”
He added, “I’ve at all times strived to dwell my life in a positively impactful means, and that’s why I sit right here earlier than you deeply offended, by these defamatory claims. God bless.”
